Does My Dog Have Allergies? Symptoms, Signs, and How to Help

How to tell if your dog has allergies

Does your dog seem to have the sniffles a lot or sneezing? It could well be that your dog has allergies and that’s the subject of today’s article. We’re going to review some of the signs and symptoms so that you can get an idea if your dog might have allergies and if so, if it’s something you can treat at home or that might warrant a little assistance from your friendly neighborhood vet.

Without further ado, let’s dig-deep into our doggy-data archives for everything have offhand about dog allergies!

Are allergies common in dogs?

Actually, yes. Dogs can be allergic to items in their environment or to various foods just like people can. Certain breeds, however, are more prone to allergies:

• Boxers
• Boston Terriers
• Chinese Shar-Peis
• Dalmatians
• Golden Retrievers
• Labrador Retrievers
• Lhasa Apsos
• Scottish Terriers
• Shih Tzus
• West Highland White Terrier
• Wirehaired Fox Terriers

6 signs of seasonal dog allergies 

Your dog can have seasonal allergies just like you can and there are some tell-tale signs of this that you can look for:

• Flaky skin
• Hair loss from scratching
• Watery eyes
• Discharge from the nose
• Sneezing
• Patchy skin

If you are seeing any of these symptoms and they seem to recur yearly, then your dog might well have seasonal allergies. It could be caused by pollen, molds, or dust, and while that scratching your dog is doing looks innocuous, it can lead to a secondary infection so it’s very important that the allergies are dealt with as soon as possible.

Now, if you’ve just changed your dog’s food, then it could be a food allergy, and that’s what we’re going to talk about next. 

Signs of food allergies

Approximately 10% of all cases of dog allergies are food-related allergies. If you notice your dog shaking their head a lot and scratching profusely, typically accompanied with diarrhea and foot or anus licking, then your dog might well have a food allergy.

The most common allergens in these cases tend to be:

• Wheat
• Egg
• Dairy
• Beef
• Pork
• Chicken
• Lamb
• Rabbit
• Fish

To top it off, dog’s that are allergic to one kind of food are typically allergic to MORE than one type of food and you may well want to get some vet testing so that you may quickly determine the exact foods that you need to keep away from your dog.

As far why this occurs, it’s often a genetic pre-disposition, but it is also believed that antibiotic treatment at a young age can make changes to your dog’s gut, making them more susceptible to food-related allergies and gastrointestinal issues.

Treating dog allergies

Over the counter medications are sometimes used in treating allergies for dogs, but you really should check with your vet first to get approval and proper dosage amounts. These drugs are formulated for adult humans and as such, you don’t want to give your dog the same dose. OTC medications used for dog allergies are as follows:

• Benadryl
• Claritin
• Clarinex
• Allegra
• Fionase
• Nasonex

There are some natural alternatives as well that you can give your dog to help to alleviate allergies. Our personal favorite, of course, is Hangry Woof Multivitamin chews (more on those, later), but some other home remedies that you can try are as follows:

• Apple Cider Vinegar – Dilute it with water and put it in a spray bottle for spray-on itchy skin relief
• Coconut Oil – Massage coconut oil into your dogs skin for natural itchy skin relief
• Chamomile Tea – Boil it, cool it, and put it in a spray bottle. Chamomile is a great natural itch reliever for your dog
• Epsom Salts – ½ cup of Epsom salts in a bath will help your dog’s itching immensely (but prepare to wear a little yourself if your doggy doesn’t like baths. Don’t worry, it’s harmless)
• Yogurt – A spoonful of yogurt can help to boost your dog’s immune system but watch to make sure that they don’t get diarrhea. Most dogs will handle yogurt just fine, however, and if they like it you can slowly move them up to 2 – 3 spoons a day.

Don’t forget that you can always visit the vet for testing

Allergies can be notoriously hard to pin down, so just remember that the vet is certainly an option. Your vet can run a series of tests to isolate specific allergens in record time. So, if you are having trouble zeroing-in on the culprit then don’t hesitate to check with the Vet. They’ve got you covered and it really is the fastest solution.

Hangry Woof Multivitamin chews can help to ease the pain of allergies… naturally!

If you are worried about using over-the-counter medications (and let’s face it, we don’t like to give any chemicals to doggies unless we have to), then you might consider giving Hangry Woof Multivitamin chews a try. They’ve got Hawaiian Kona berries to help boost your dog’s immune system, as well as Icelandic Sea Kelp, which can help for skin conditions.

They’re made with peanut butter and a host of other ingredients that are just plain good for your dog. Take a look at what’s inside beyond the Sea Kelp and Kona berries:

• Coral Calcium – Great for strengthening bones and joints
• Taurine – Promotes heart health and boosts the immune system. Especially good for older dogs.
• Vitamin E – Good for healthy skin, muscles, and joints
• New Zealand Green Lipped Mussels – Chock full of omega-3, chondroitin and glucosamine, this is good for pain relief, relieving swelling, and combatting arthritis
• Also includes a well-rounded blend of vitamin Bs, C, D, E, antioxidants, and calcium

In closing

This concludes our exploration into the subject of allergies and your dog. Remember, if you aren’t able to find what you think that your dog is allergic to then you can always check with your vet. They can run extensive tests to help narrow it down to find the culprit. Finding what your dog is allergic to on your own can be tricky, just like it is with humans, so if you need help then don’t hesitate.

Once you’ve identified the allergen then the rest is easy. Until next time, we wish you and your doggie the best!